I was thrilled when I opened the mail and saw my latest book to review! It was two brightly colored children's books from the My Princess series. Each book in this series by Stephanie Rische starts with this message in rhyme the inside cover:

What makes a princess? I’d sure like to know. Could I be a princess? I wish it were so!

It’s there in the Bible, so I know that it’s true. We are God’s children — You and me, too!

Since God is our Father, the King up above, We are all princesses, The ones that he loves!

The series is about two girls: Grace and Hope who pretend to be princesses. In each story they run into a problem. In Learn to be Brave the girls run into a bully. The girls remember the story of Esther from their Bible lessons and use that knowledge to help them solve their problem.

I would recommend this book to any mother of young daughters. The pictures of the characters in these books are inviting to young girls. Moms will love the values that are reinforced by the Hope and Grace. It is a great example to your children of how they can use their knowledge of Bible stories to help them in their daily lives.

I also received a copy of My Princesses Learn to Share by Amie Carlson. I also give that book the same fantastic review. The book has the same characters, Hope and Grace. The girls find themselves in another bind but again use their Bible knowledge to solve their problem!

The first week back to school was a success! As always, the first week was long and tiring but it was very exciting. I love my new class!

My van all loaded up and ready to head to school to set up

I moved from middle school to fifth grade this year so that meant moving to a new classroom. If you are a teacher, you know how much effort goes into setting up a new room for a new grade level. Here are some pictures of my room when I arrived two weeks ago

Here is what it looks like after I added my touch to it...

The hallway outside my classroom

I teach at a Christian school where all of the Elementary classrooms have the same theme. This year's theme is F.R.O.G. (Fully Rely On God) so there are plenty of frogs around the room.

I wrote each of the student's names on the frogs

View from the hallway (Rug $19.99 from Ikea)

I have 18 students in my class so I felt placing the desks into 4 groups made the best use of the small space (Curtains from Ikea $14.99 a pair)